https://www.miracledesk.com/blogs/miracle-desk-blog.atomMiracleDesk.com - Miracle Desk Blog2016-04-14T16:45:00-05:00MiracleDesk.comhttps://www.miracledesk.com/blogs/miracle-desk-blog/152779783-44-benefits-of-standing-desk-why-stand-at-work-the-complete-list2016-04-14T16:45:00-05:002017-05-09T08:16:25-05:0044 Benefits of Standing Desk (Why Stand at Work) - The Complete Liststeve brielmaier
You probably already know that sitting too much is super harmful and will seriously degrade the quality of our lives. Standing up at work provides many benefits (44 at last count)…

But what the heck are they?

Once you will wish someone told you years ago. So let’s dive in and reveal the hidden benefits of standing at work:

Once you learn the 44 standing desk health benefits, you will wish someone told you years ago. So let’s dive in and reveal the hidden benefits of standing at work:

+ Pain Reduction Standing Desk Benefits

Reduces Lower Back Pain – People with back or leg problems simply cannot endure the stress that prolonged sitting at a desk creates. A 2011 CDC study confirmed what many standers already know: standing desk users reduced back pain by 54%. Even a one hour standing break per day will relieve the stress on your spine caused by sitting all day. (Tip: If pain relief is your main motivation for standing up, be sure to choose a sit/stand desk, which allows you to easily switch between sitting and standing, so you can find the position that works best and control your work space.)

Prevents Neck Strain – Long sitting sessions often result in craning your neck toward your monitor as your spine forms the harmful “C” shape. Standing up at work tends to elongate your spine and restores the healthy “S” shape to your spine, according to Cedars Saini. Using a laptop stand instead of sitting down puts your neck in a natural, un-strained posture. (we always recommend a Sit-Stand Monitor Arm to keep your monitor in a natural ergonomic position so you won't need to strain your neck to see it.)

Reduces Disc Damage - Sitting in the “C” position compresses your spinal discs unevenly, dumping your upper body weight on your tailbone. Disc collagen hardens around ligaments and tendons. Eventually sitters put themselves at greater risk for herniated lumbar disks, according to WebMD. Using a stand-up desk promotes even weight distribution along the “S” arch of your spine. Even the small spine motions involved in standing draws fresh blood and nutrients to the soft tissue between vertebrae, keeping your discs healthy.

Avoids Leg Pain – Most office chairs will hurt your legs. The throbbing you feel on the back of your thighs is caused by your veins and arteries being pinched like a garden hose. Using a standing height desk at work lets blood flow freely all the way to your toes. Motion is a super simple way to eliminate leg pain.

Decreases Headaches – By reducing strain, people who use a stand up computer desk report less frequent and less intense headaches. Further study is needed to determine exactly why, but when your body is in a better posture and neck and shoulder strain are reduced, a reduction in headache pain is anticipated.

+ Performance Benefits of Ergonomic Desk

Increases Energy - The first change that new standers notice is that instead of tiring you out, standing gives you an energy boost equal to a tall coffee, without the crash. If you use a tall desk, your blood flow freely and delivers more oxygen to your muscles, so you feel better, longer. This new burst of energy is the first critical step of the virtuous cycle, because more energy leads you to many of the following benefits.

Increases Productivity - Standers get more done. If you use a standing desk, you increase blood flow and your energy level increases. A Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health study confirmed that standing up will increase productivity up to 46%. This landmark study also suggests and you will become MORE productive after using your sit-stand desk for 60 days. (likely you will find additional ways to increase your productivity as you adjust to the new workspace.) So if you find yourself falling behind and never seem to catch up, try standing and get sh@! done.

Increases Lung Capacity – Sitting in the slouched “C” position compresses your rib cage and decreases your lung capacity. Using a Stand Up Desk elongates your lungs. More lung capacity means more oxygen, leading to better physical and mental function. Low energy is the #1 factor people cite for low productivity. Imagine your next performance review when you have completed all projects on time. Your boss will notice your increased output. (Source: National Institutes of Health, 2006)

+ Health Benefits of Standing Desk

Improves Circulation – Circulation is truly “health benefit zero” because better circulation leads directly to so many other benefits. Nearly every one of these 44 benefits depends on improved circulation. When you stand up at your ergonomic desk, even part time, your blood flows better and you can avoid the myriad of problems that plague people who sit all day.

Reduces Cardiovascular Disease – Sedentary lifestyles have been linked to a myriad of cardiovascular problems. Prolonged sitting has been linked to high blood pressure, increased plaque and elevated levels of “bad” cholesterol. Dr. LaCroix reported that people with the most sedentary time are more than twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease than those who are active at the office.

Reduces Heart attack Risk - According to Dr. James Levine, sitting for extended periods of time leads to approximately 125% more risk of chest pain or a heart attack. Why risk cardiovascular disease if risk can be reduced by merely standing a few hours a day?

Reduces Diabetes Risk – Exercise and movement are key elements in fighting diabetes. Insulin’s ability to process sugars can drop dramatically after one day of sitting, and the risk of Type II diabetes increases. One researcher found that insulin effectiveness dropped by 40% . . . in only 24 hours! Your body essentially goes to sleep when it is inactive for long periods of time, like while sitting. Your metabolism slows down, and all of this can contribute to risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Reduces Cancer Risk – Studies have linked sitting to a greater risk for colon, breast and endometrial cancers. The reason is unclear, but one theory is that excess insulin encourages cell growth. Another is that regular movement boosts natural antioxidants that kill cell-damaging— and potentially cancer-causing — free radicals. The American Cancer Society warns that sitting for over 6 hours a day rapidly increases the risk of cancer for both men and women.

Reduces Varicose Veins – Studies indicate that excessive sitting or excessive standing can BOTH lead to varicose veins. So the optimal approach is to alternate between sitting and standing at your work-station during the day. A sit-stand desk conversion is the perfect way to start standing at work without having to commit to an expensive new desk.

Lowers Cholesterol – The European Heart Journal argues that standing instead of sitting can lead to lower cholesterol and increased heart health. Anything that prevents our bodies from prematurely going into “shut down” mode while sitting leads to healthier lives. Simply stand for two hours when you would normally sit and experience better cholesterol levels.

Peripheral Neuropathy - Peripheral Neuropathy is a catchall term to refer to any malfunction of your nervous system outside of your brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include muscle pain and spasms, tingling, irregular heart patterns, touch sensitivity, and loss of sensitivity in your extremities. Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy include changes in insulin effectiveness, restriction or entrapment of nerves, and poor blood flow around your spine. Sound familiar? In fact, sitting contributes all of these problems, increasing your risk for Peripheral Neuropathy. Using a desk riser will relieve leg pressure and improve blood flow.

Liver - Studies have shown that a decrease in time spent sitting can lower the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Getting your body moving keeps its various systems from slowing down. Standing up every 20 minutes or so can help keep your body's heart and liver functioning as they should.

Kidney - The American Journal of Kidney Disease concluded in a 2012 study that lower time of sitting lead to lower chances of chronic kidney disease. Further, minimum levels of exercise also help decrease the risk of kidney problems. This is just another way that standing for part of the time you spend sitting can help prevent health problems down the road.

Urinary problems - Prostatitis, otherwise known as “trucker’s disease”, often manifests itself during long periods of prolonged sitting. Researchers are concluding that reducing long sessions of sitting can reduce the risk of different kinds of cancer, including prostate cancer. Really, anything that keeps your body in motion rather than stuck in a static position can only lead to positive benefits down the road.

Reduces Swollen ankles - One of the problems with sitting down for long periods of time is it slows blood circulation. This means that your blood isn’t moving throughout your body as effectively as it should and can become trapped, especially in your legs. A number of scientists concluded that poor circulation can lead to problems like swollen ankles or varicose veins in your legs. Standing up and shaking out your legs can help boost circulation and prevent leg problems.

Stronger Bones: Walking, running, and engaging in other weight-bearing activities lead to stronger, denser bones. Lack of activity may cause weak bones and even osteoporosis.

Better Digestion: When you sit, your body compresses the digestive system which slows down its ability to absorb and process your meals. This usually translates into heartburn, cramps, bloating, and other digestive issues. According to Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease, this can also lead to “Intestinal disorders include inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and celiac disease, while extra-intestinal disorders include allergy, asthma, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and obesity."

Delays Muscle Degeneration - When you sit, your body essentially goes into hibernation. Too much time spent in a sitting position causes your muscles to shorten (especially psoas and hip flexors) and others go dormant (abdominals, glutes, and shoulders). An easy way to counteract the breakdown of your body’s musculature is to stand and stretch every 20 minutes or so. Using a stand up desk does not seem like it activates muscles, but you do benefit from micro-movements while standing.

Prevents Over-productive Pancreas - The hormone responsible for turning glucose into energy is insulin, which is produced by your pancreas. When your body slows down while sleeping or sitting, the muscles don’t react to insulin as easily so the pancreas has to overproduce the hormone. This overproduction of insulin leads type II Diabetes and other blood sugar diseases.

Lowers Blood Sugar Levels - Usually, you want your blood sugar levels to stay as low as possible after eating. Low blood sugar levels becomes more critical for those with insulin related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. When you sit, your body produces an abundance of insulin (see above) which can lead to resistance. By standing after meals, the body can more effectively process glucose without as much insulin, leading to better blood sugar levels. For the greatest benefit, stand at your ergonomic desk for at least 3 hours after meals (adding necessary sitting breaks or stretching), but workers also saw a benefit from alternating sitting and standing throughout the day.

+ Brain and Mental Benefits of Standing Up

More Efficient Brain Function - Better circulation means more oxygen to your brain, so you will stay sharp and able to focus on tasks longer. A critical benefit of standing vs. sitting is that oxygen will feed your creativity and help you avoid mental fatigue and reach your true potential. Imagine how your future will be different when your brain is working at peak efficiency. We have all had days where everything clicked and we seemed like a fountain of creativity. How would your life be better if you had more days like this?

Increased brain activity – Increased circulation mean more blood to brain, which means more efficient brain function. When we are sedentary for a long time, everything slows, including brain function. Why do you think they call it "thinking on your feet?" Instead of slouching in a chair, a laptop stand is a much better choice to spark brain function.

More focus - By standing up, you can engage your entire body, including your mind. With the increased energy from standing up, you can concentrate longer on each task. No more afternoon crash! Keep your mind and heart engaged by standing at your desk rather than sitting.

More creativity - Offices are quickly finding that dumping chairs leads to greater creativity during brainstorming sessions and team meetings. If a simple change in your lifestyle led to massive benefits in resourcefulness and ingenuity, would you make it? The small change of standing up creates more blood flow to the brain which lets your core processor function at peak capacity. Get in touch with your artistic side and try using a standup desk!

ADD and ADHD - Educators understand that there is a huge connection between sitting still and short attention spans. ADD and ADHD lead to hyperactivity that is impossible to resist while. One great standing desk benefit for students (especially with a fidget bar!) is that young people are allowed to expend excess energy which leads to increased concentration.

+ Longevity Benefits of Laptop Stand

Standers Live Longer - Ok, if you stuck with me this far, you might not think its such a stretch to claim standing will actually lengthen your life. Well, a 2010 study by the American Cancer Society found that women who sat more than six hours a day were 37% more likely to die prematurely than women who sat for less than three hours, while the early-death rate for men was 18% higher. Another study found that people watching 4 hours of TV a day had a 61 percent greater risk of dying than those who watched less than 1 hour. So while individual results always vary, statistically speaking, stand up desk users live longer than sitters.

Delays the Aging Process - A sedentary lifestyle results in shorter “telomeres” (which are the ends of our dna strands that shorten each time a cell divides. See how much you are learning?) Once the telomeres become too short, the cell cannot divide. According to the National Institutes of Health, Dr Katzmarzyk concluded “standing may be a healthier alternative to excessive periods of sitting”

Sedentary Death Syndrome – SDS is a relatively new theory coined by Dr. Frank Booth and is similar to “sitting disease.” The conclusion is that the human body was designed to be active. When you become sedentary, you put yourself at risk to dozens of serious diseases, like heart disease and type II diabetes. Dr. Booth is hoping to raise funds because further study is greatly needed. In the meantime, one important reason to stand at work is the increase in life longevity you can expect.

+ Fitness Benefits of Standing at Work

Standers Lose Weight – New standers report losing between 8 and 15 pounds in the first 90 days. Since they are not agonizing through long workouts, how is this possible? Well… our bodies have an enzyme called LPL, whose only job is to remove fat from our blood. But LPL goes dormant when we sit down, so it can’t remove the fat, which instead gets stored. The good news is that simply standing up at work will re-activate your dormant LPL so it can get back to removing fat.

Strengthen Your Core - Standing gives your core muscles a workout without you even knowing it. (Especially if you make a conscious effort to move and twist while standing.) Use a stand up desk conversion to engage your abdominal muscles without you having to think about it. But when seated, your abs take a break (and worse yet, start to sag!) If you don’t like doing crunches, why not work out the easy way?

Burn More Calories - Since standing up to work does not look much more strenuous than sitting, is there really any benefit? Is there a difference in standing vs. sitting calories burned? You might be surprised! According to Dr. John Buckley of the Dept. of Clinical Science and Nutrition, standing will burn 50% more calories than sitting. That means you will burn 50 more calories per hour, (200 each day, 40,000 each year, if you stand just 4 hours) 40,000 calories means 8 less pounds!

Validate your Workout – Think because you work-out you have earned the right to sit all day? No amount of exercise will counteract the harm done by spending half your waking hours idle in a chair. Mayo Clinic co-director Dr. James Levine says “..going to the gym…does not relinquish you from the responsibility of being active throughout the day.”

More Flexible hips - Sitting too much tightens your hips as your flexor muscles become short and tight, limiting your hip motion and stride length. Your future self will thank you because decreased hip mobility is a main reason older folks take a fall.

Firmer Glutes – While opinions vary on optimal posterior size, everyone agrees that firmer glutes are better. When you stand-to-work, you engage your glutes and naturally tighten them during the day. Sitting asks nothing of your glutes so they get soft and flabby. Firming large muscle groups like your glutes will help increase your endurance and power.

Increases your Flexibility – You can consider standing at your desk and extension of your yoga routine. Excessive sitting decreases the range of motion for all your muscle groups, including abs, glutes, quads, and psoas. Standing will improve your flexibility.

+ Emotional Benefits from Standing Up

Feel More Powerful – Standing tall makes you feel more powerful and confident. A Columbia and Harvard University Study confirmed that standers not only felt more powerful and in control, but were 45% more confident in their decisions.

Improve your Mood – Standing-to-work will release endorphins, giving you a natural high. While you may not get the same endorphin-rush as you would from running 10k, standing up does provide a gentle stream of “feel-good” endorphins. So if you need a change in attitude, simply change your altitude.

Bonus Reasons to Stand at Work (we just could not stop at 44!)

Standing Lowers Stress – It is much more difficult to be tense or fearful when you are standing in a “power position.” Especially when you incorporate deep breathing, you will notice a calming effect that lowers stress and makes it more difficult to be afraid. Sit-stand desk users will be calmer and less stressed out.

Higher Self-Esteem – Now that you know the cascade of evidence supporting standing at work, you will naturally feel better about yourself when you stand up. Knowing that you are “doing the right thing” will help you do your best work and become a better version of yourself.

+ Conclusion

Whew!

That is a long list. Are you standing up at your computer yet?

If not, at least hopefully we have opened your mind to the possibility of changing your work space. The first step is to open your mind to the standing desk health benefits. Everyone will change on their own timetable. So when you are ready, be sure to read our special report, How to Choose the Right Stand Up Desk

Special thanks to standing advocates like Dr. James Levine, Dr Joseph Mercola, and Dr. Joan Verkinos whose pioneering investigations have opened the world’s eyes to the dangers of “sitting disease.” Without their tireless evangelism, we would still be unaware of the dangers posed by our office chairs.

Too busy to read all 44 benefits? We condensed the top 10:

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https://www.miracledesk.com/blogs/miracle-desk-blog/123514759-how-much-to-alternate-between-sitting-and-standing2016-02-23T13:01:00-06:002017-05-08T07:50:23-05:00How Much to Alternate Between Sitting and Standingsteve brielmaier
This blog will deal with exactly how much time should be spent standing versus sitting when you have a sit stand workstation. Ideally you will begin with between 10-20 minutes per hour of standing while sitting for the remainder of the time during your first few weeks. After that, depending on what additional equipment you have, you can begin to incrementally increase the amount of time spent standing by 5-10 minutes per week until you are “standing” for the whole day. We believe, based on science, that you should not just stand still while using your stand up desk but should incorporate simple, small movements into your day along with bigger activities like stretches, exercises and using time spent doing routine activities to boost your metabolism, increase your caloric burn and generate the best results from the sit stand work lifestyle.

This blog will deal with exactly how much time should be spent standing versus sitting when you have a sit-stand workstation. Ideally, you will begin with between 10-20 minutes per hour of standing while sitting for the remainder of the time during your first few weeks. After that, depending on what additional equipment you have, you can begin to incrementally increase the amount of time spent standing by 5-10 minutes per week until you are “standing” for the whole day. We believe, based on science, that you should not just stand still while using your stand up desk but should incorporate simple, small movements into your day along with bigger activities like stretches, exercises and using time spent doing routine activities to boost your metabolism, increase your caloric burn and generate the best results from the sit stand work lifestyle.

The Big Dilemma

Many people who read about the illness that sitting disease, as it is now being called, is causing want to jump into the sit stand work lifestyle right away. They do research on what kind of desk to get, they read about different types of desks that do all kinds of crazy things, have neat little attachments but then they find out how much it costs and figure out how they can afford to buy a desk that could get them a used car!

Hopefully, you didn’t go out and get a hydraulic desk without at least trying the sit stand work lifestyle but if you did no biggie we will still show you how to best use that amazing machine. If you haven’t yet made a decision on what desk to get I highly suggest reading our page “Why the Miracle Desk” and checking out the Miracle Desk HERE to see if it can help make the decision to start standing at work a little easier. I only say that because the Original Miracle Desk is less than $80 and lets you keep your same desk so you can test out whether working and standing is right for you.

But you are here reading about how much time to sit or stand while working, so either you already have a desk and are sore, or you are digging a bit deeper pre-purchase and figuring out what this whole standing while working thing would look like. Either way, we will go through all of the different ways you can add variety to your stand up desk work routine so that you work in the most healthy way while also optimizing to get all the benefits of standing at work.

If you have a desk and have hopped in a bit too aggressively with the standing and didn’t have proper insoles, an anti-fatigue mat, maybe monitor arms or stood all day right away then you are probably not feeling so energized, productive and healthy! That is ok because we will talk all about the tools you need and how to optimally structure your day so that you don’t get sore anymore and reap all the rewards of standing at work. I will show you the science behind it and at the end there will be links to all references on top of linking to any articles or studies I mention specifically. I only mention this so that you know before getting into this post that I didn’t just make this stuff up, some of it has come from our own staff’s personal experience but most of it is from studies or others who have gone out and tried to make the switch to standing at work and have passed on what they learned.

So let’s get to it then and break down a typical work day for your average 9-5’er and see how we can best use a sit-stand desk. Sitting or standing is not a difficult choice but there are ways to optimize how you sit and stand so that you get the most out of your work day. If you want to read some basics on posture, which is definitely a good starting point for when you switch from sitting to standing, then check out our blog post “HAVING CORRECT POSTURE WHILE USING A STAND UP DESK IS ESSENTIAL TO HELPING WITH BACK PAIN”.

To Sit or to Not Sit That is the Question

When you begin to stand at work, not only might you get some weird looks, it is hard to not want to start standing all day long. Science has shown though that alternating between sitting and standing is actually better for you than being on your feet all day. Especially considering that, most likely, you are so used to being slumped over staring at a screen all day that your core muscles and feet aren’t used to being used all day. This is why if you jump into standing all day right away that you will get very sore, feel tired and not believe all the things you read about how people are more energized, feel happier, are more productive, lose weight, aren’t getting diabetes or heart disease and don’t have back pain or neck pain any longer.

So when beginning it is best to start slowly with how much time you spend standing. Many people will use a timer like at www.standingclock.com to track how much time they spent standing versus sitting all day or to ensure they don’t stand too long in the beginning. (For more tools, tips and accessories to optimize your standing work check out our article “Accessories, Tools and Tips You Must Have to Stand at Work”insert link once article is written and up)

There is no exact number that scientists have conclusively said is ideal for starting or even for continuing to stand while working. From first-hand accounts to scientific studies though it is abundantly clear that you need to start slow, something like 10-20 minutes a day depending on fitness level and accessories you have, and then incrementally increase the amount of time spent standing until you get to your personal ideal level. For me personally, I like to do certain things standing and others sitting and it tends to be focus based. So I stand when I need to focus and sit when I am doing something a little more routine. I tend to look less at time and more how I feel because I stand to feel better. For some people, they like to go about 50/50 on the sit to stand ratio for working while standing while others, like the owner of Miracle Desk, spend 90% of the day standing and often only sit for meetings. So after you have acclimated to standing while working and using your sit-stand desk then begin bumping up your time spent standing by 5-10 minutes a week. You can go faster if you have some or all of these things: an Anti-Fatigue Mat, are in good health, work out, have insoles, move while standing and have done your research so that your posture is correct.

A Few Tools to Use

Now everyone has a different reason for switching to a stand-up desk so maybe yours was to get healthier, lose weight, be more happy or to be more productive but there are some nifty tools you can use to gauge some of these things (like happiness doesn’t have an online calculator yet but I am sure you know if you are more happy). You should check out the calorie burning calculator that lets you know how many extra calories you are burning just by standing still at www.juststand.org and you can use it by clicking HERE. Or if you want to see how much time you are sitting then use their sitting time calculator HERE. Use the standing clock tool mentioned above to track your actual time spent standing. Read our BLOG HERE for all kinds of tips, tools and tricks to get the most out of your stand up desk and new work while standing career.

Adding Movement to Your Day

Ideally, you will start with standing for various activities (even without having a stand-up desk you can do some of this) and begin to incorporate movement into your day. Stand while talking on the phone, while reading, while typing or while waiting for reports to run. It doesn’t matter what reason you choose to stand while working just choose something and do it consistently for about a week to get used to standing while working.

Since we are training you from the beginning it is good to note here that you should not stand still while you are standing and working. There are a lot of ways that you can begin to incorporate movement into your sit stand workday. From little things like shifting your weight between feet or better yet put one foot up on something and then alternate to pacing while talking on a corded phone or walk around if your phone is wireless. Also if you are waiting for a program to start or a report to run or for whatever reason, you have to wait for your computer to do something then you can do a stretch like the ones in the article referenced below. Some people even do squats or arm raises (for a list of great stretches that can be done at work, simple exercises or other ways to move at work read our article “Simple Stretches, Exercises and Ways to Burn More Calories”).

Just don’t stand still. Standing is great but standing and moving is what will ultimately get you the greatest rewards. Since the focus of this blog is not movement while standing but the ideal amount of time to spend sitting versus standing I will leave it at that and hope that you go read our blog about ways to move during work but I do want to at least hear some of my story about when I started working here and began using the Miracle Desk.

My Personal Story of Standing While Working

When I started working here I had never stood for work before (at least not in front of a computer) and it took some getting used to but I was warned not to stand for too long if I hadn’t gotten insoles yet even though I had an Anti-Fatigue Mat (you can check out our Gel Anti-Fatigue Mats HERE). I have been certified as a personal trainer since I was 18 though so I knew how to stand properly, my core muscles were strong and I was used to being on my feet so I thought I would be fine. I was wrong. Standing all day and trying to type, answer calls, write, email and read a screen all while standing stock still made me my feet so sore that when I went home I couldn’t wait to get my shoes off and instead of having less back pain my back was sore not to mention how I was exhausted. As a result, I began my personal quest of research and learned all that I am now imparting to you about how to move while standing to reduce pressure on your joints and feet, to increase metabolism and to generally enjoy standing while working just a little bit more. I tend to not take others people’s advice and need to learn for myself so I did tons of research on standing while working, stand up desks and what it takes to really get the most out of using a sit-stand workstation and it has paid off big time. I am more productive, I do get things done faster, I have ADHD and so moving while working is ideal for me and on top of it I get to do exercises as part of work!

The End

Thanks for joining us again for another great edition of the Miracle Desk Blog I sincerely hope that we helped to answer your questions and maybe even answered some you hadn't thought of yet. Using a Stand Up Desk to switch between sitting and standing while working, whether in an office or from home or on the go, can be incredibly rewarding and the benefits are undeniable. Just read our page on "Why to Stand" and you will see all the reasons to start or keep standing while working. If you haven't gotten to check out our original Miracle Desk then click HERE and check it out. It is fun you can choose, size, color and height and don't have to sort through 100's of styles or designs just get the one that suits you perfectly. Have a great day and keep on standing for something.

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https://www.miracledesk.com/blogs/miracle-desk-blog/123117127-how-to-convince-your-boss-to-buy-you-a-stand-up-desk2016-02-22T15:26:00-06:002016-08-22T02:34:51-05:00How to Convince Your Boss to Buy You a Stand Up DeskAngela Villani
Let’s say that you don’t want to shell out the cash for a desk that will be used at work, for work and to profit the company eventually. Well then listen closely because if there is one thing I know it is that bosses love to save money and make more of it. So I am going to give you all the facts you need to craft the perfect proposal to get your company to buy you a nice fancy Miracle Desk right here.

Many people today are looking at standing while they are working in their day jobs as study after study shows the dangers of sitting all day. Now when you go out and begin to look for a desk that allows you to sit and stand during the day, because you have read that standing all day is not good either, then you start to realize that they are incredibly expensive. BUT luckily our Miracle Desk is not only the most affordable sit stand desk on the market it is also on this very site! So that eliminates the issue for affordability but let’s say that you still don’t want to shell out the cash for a desk that will be used at work, for work and to profit the company eventually. Well then listen closely because if there is one thing I know it is that bosses love to save money and make more of it. So I am going to give you all the facts you need to craft the perfect proposal to get your company to buy you a nice fancy Miracle Desk right here. I am writing this article because of this great inforgraphic from juststand.org that says most people want the option to sit or stand while working.

The Outline to The Persuasion

So just like with any other purchase for the office the company, no matter how big or small, will want to know why you should get this item and more importantly how will it help the company. The beauty of stand up desks is that all of the research points to the fact that not only would sit stand workstations help increase energy, improve morale, increase communication, boost performance and help employees focus more but it would lower the cost of insurance as it decreases the likelihood of diabetes, heart disease and a host of other illnesses. So converting to a sit stand desk would not only save the company money in the long run as the cost of insurance decreased with a healthier workforce but that workforce would be more focused, energized, happy, less likely to be depressed and therefore more productive overall which would increase the bottom line. So let's break down each of these points and give you some raw data to use also because you can’t just go in armed with our blog saying so!

Save The Company Money

A huge expense for companies these days is the cost of healthcare and it is only rising as we become a more sedentary society we become more obese, have more heart problems, diabetes is more than an epidemic and depression keeps people from work too. Don’t take my word for it though just read on. “Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $17,545 this year, up 4 percent from last year, with workers on average paying $4,955 towards the cost of their coverage -- according to the Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Education Trust. -Sep 22, 2015.”[1] That study is quoted in a much longer paper on the NCSL.org site looking at rising health care costs as the Affordable Health Care Act brought on more sick people and the insurance companies are looking to raise premiums. Companies are using all types of programs to get their employees healthier so that they can reduce their premiums over time. This can come in the form of offering gym memberships to having company wide health initiatives with rewards and bonuses for participating and completing certain actions. There is a rise in Corporate Wellness programs and I firmly believe that as a part of any corporate wellness program stand up desks should be included. I will explain why I believe that based on all the evidence that shows how much more healthy a person can be who uses a stand up desk instead of sitting for 8+ hours a day at work.

Standing while working even for only 20 minutes an hour can have a dramatic effect on a person's health, in a positive way, while sitting all day is now being called “the new smoking.” [2] Sitting is causing all sorts of health problems and this is costing companies money and they don’t even know it. You must be the one to help them learn so that they can not only save money by investing a little today but save lives. According to CNN.com “Last year we learned from a scientific review of 47 studies that this sedentary behavior increases your chances of getting a disease or condition that will kill you even if you exercise. Now a new study from the Netherlands running in the journal Diabetologia suggests that even an extra 40 minutes of couch potato behavior will dramatically increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.”[3] If just an extra 40 minutes on the couch can increase your chance of type 2 diabetes then imagine what 8+ hours a day in front of a computer is doing to us all!

It’s not just the cost of healthcare that is costing employers money either. It’s the fact that sitting is making us sick and people don’t just miss work which makes for less money being made but when they are at work they are taking more breaks or are having to stop work to ease their back pain or to take medicine. The hours of lost productivity are insane. So if you couple the lowering of the cost of health care due to a healthier workforce with a decrease in time missed or time distracted from work you save money and make more. In this study done by juststand.org they found that 85% of people surveyed responded that they take some sort of break due to an illness that is associated with sitting.[4] That is a lot of people missing a lot of work just because they sit. When you consider that our Miracle Desk (Found HERE) is under $80 and you consider the cost of missed work then just having them at the desk for less than 6 months it would pay for itself.

Ok so we have thoroughly covered the fact that employers can save money by lowering the cost of healthcare by using sit stand desk workstations to have a healthier workforce and employees will miss less work and take less breaks so therefore earn more for the company. Let’s move on then to how the company will make more because that now healthy workforce is going to be energetic, laser focused, happy and more productive. This is all backed up by research and you will have all the links to follow or do your own and you will find out all this is fact.

Let’s Make the Company More Money!

I know. I know. You don’t get all jazzed about making someone else more money but guess what when you are the person who introduces this to the company as not only a cost saving initiative but a profit increasing one also guess who is going to get a raise and probably that big promotion. Well obviously I hope you and not that jerk who got it last year even though he totally didn’t deserve it. But in all seriousness what you just read is about your life and your health. Not just for the company but for your sake get a standing desk to work at because sitting is literally killing us all. So I said I would help you not have to pay for it and I think that my extensive linking and footnoting should help you but I know business’s and they want an ROI so let’s show them how to turn a $79 desk into $1,000’s of profit.

A problem we discussed above is that employees are leaving their desks and are taking unnecessary breaks or stretching even just because sitting is so awful. This is lost revenue for the company because anytime someone is not doing their job then the company is paying them and they are not producing the way they should. Couple this with the fact that we know people who work in front of computers get distracted all the time by social media, email, chats and youtube videos of cat’s playing the piano (they are funny videos though so you can’t blame them). Business Insider says that distractions in the work place cost employers roughly $650 billion a year. To quote them “General distraction in the office — anything from your handheld to the water cooler — helps drive down productivity for American business everywhere. In fact, 53 percent of workers agree that these distractions affect their productivity, despite an even larger number claiming having a smartphone makes them a better worker.” [5] That is a ton of money because people aren’t focused. What if we stopped and thought about the lack of energy the employees have and how much more productive they would be if they were happy, focused and energetic. Ok so we know that not being focused is a problem and leads to a lack of productivity and therefore a drop in profits but what if I said that sitting is what makes them less focused and that people who use a standing or sit stand desk feel more focused and energetic and have been shown to be more productive. Would you believe me? You don’t have to. I will share with you all the data on how study after study have shown people to be more focused and productive when using a stand up desk. Oh but wait before that let me just list off a few of the major companies using stand up desks right now: Google, Microsoft, Facebook, FF Venture Capital and any other self respecting start up at this point!

“The grand conclusion: Compared to a period of time when a person was not using the standing desk, we found that standing led to up to 10% more productivity.”[6]This is a quote from a Business Insider article on stand up desks and increased productivity. So imagine a whole team of people who are now not wasting money and time but are actually 10% more productive than when they were sitting. This team would excel at all things it was given and if compared to the rest of the company they would outshine them on all data points. I am starting from the end though here because I just basically spoiled the whole thing. See I should have led with stats on increased energy and focus and then built up to how you get the 10% increase in productivity but I don’t work that way. See I told you I was going to deliver and I wanted you to see right away before you had to wade through loads of articles on energy and happiness and focus. So now that we have that out of the way let’s talk about how you become so much more productive.

Studies show that people who use a sit stand desk are more focused and on top of that there are tons of self reported cases of people saying they feel more focused after switching to a sit stand desk. Now there are some defectors but many of them attempted to go from sitting all day to standing all day with no transition period and without the right accessories and tools. I don’t believe that to be a fair assessment of the true sit stand workstation. “Texas A&M just proved it’s true. Their study found that students using standing desks showed an increase in brain activity in the pre-frontal cortex. That means that both their problem solving skills and working memory improved. It’s pretty amazing!” That quote is from the site officing today but is quoting the study done by The International Journal of Environmental and Public Health which recently published the results of Texas A&M’s School of Public Health study“Standing Up for Learning: A Pilot Investigation on the Neurocognitive Benefits of Stand-Biased School Desks”[7] The article goes on to explain what this all means. They say that “This means better problem solving abilities, better attention and focus, improved time management, improved memorization, better ability at prioritizing tasks, and better organization. In turn, this leads to the possibility of workers being more efficient and productive during work hours.” So not just improved focus. I guess I under shot a little. Imagine a full office of people actually working at their maximum capacity and using their brains to solve problems instead of solve sudoku on their iPhone. If HR or the person who makes the buying decisions can’t see based on just this alone that not only should they buy you a Miracle Desk but that they should outfit the entire office with them then I don’t know what else to tell you.

Conclusion

We covered a lot of ground here but I think it was good. I am glad you are going to get that desk you deserve and after next quarter's numbers come in my guess is that raise and promotion. I am not kidding it is a revolution out there. The only problem is that it is nothing new. As a matter of fact Michelangelo, Thomas Jefferson, and Ernest Hemingway all stood up when they worked. See so brilliant people for a long time have been standing and working. It is only recently that the chair and office and desk job have been invented and we are seeing the devastation it is wreaking on us both physically and mentally. Take the articles from the links or footnotes and maybe add a pie chart or a spreadsheet or do a powerpoint and make your point so that your employer gets off their butts (see that’s a standing desk joke) and makes the right decision to have a happy and healthy company.

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https://www.miracledesk.com/blogs/miracle-desk-blog/123014279-having-correct-posture-while-using-a-stand-up-desk-is-essential-to-helping-with-back-pain2016-02-22T11:18:00-06:002017-05-08T07:51:32-05:00Amazing 100% Correct Posture Diagnosed for Stand Up Desk (revealed)steve brielmaier
There is posture and then there is standing at your desk and having to type, read a screen, do paperwork, lean over and a whole host of other things that will make it so you are not always standing perfectly straight. This is ok and not bad for your body at all but what you want to do is maintain some basics while working at your sit stand workstation so keep reading to find out all about how to align yourself properly to eliminate back pain and work smarter...

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BUT it is also essential to getting the most out of your sit stand desk

Standing while working for many is a requirement; such as those in those who work in retail stores, baristas and wait staff to factory workers and construction workers. For others sitting while working all day has been a long time reality that may or may not have bothered you. My guess is that if you are reading this you are already switching to or have switched to the sit stand work revolution and are using some sort of stand up desk (like our miracle desk) to assist you. Now that you have your desk, or even if it is on the way, it is a good time to begin thinking about your posture while you sit and stand at work. I have included some links to some great infographics (basically pictures that show the key points on proper posture while using a standing desk) at the end of the article also if you are a more visual person. There are some key elements to improve your posture while standing without being at work and maybe you are in violation of some of these. So let's go over a few basics on how to stand straight and help keep your core muscles engaged so they can become strong enough to hold you up tall, in the proper way, all the time. Because if you are slouching before you start standing at work it won’t help to slouch while working

Good Posture Vs. Bad Posture and Improving Your Posture:

Remember to keep your shoulders and back aligned with each other. Engage your core muscles (also known as your stomach muscles) to keep your body as straight as possible. If you have your whole body from head to toe lined up so that each piece is directly above the next piece then you are doing it correctly. Don’t forget to slightly bend your knees while standing because this will reduce some of the pressure on your hips. So your head and neck should be held straight so that your spine is straight and your shoulders should align with your hips then. Once you have yours knees very slightly bent (basically you don’t want to lock your knees straight) then you are standing straight and tall. If you want to see a cool infographic on posture you can check out this one at Greatist.com.(http://greatist.com/health/ultimate-guide-good-posture) Now one final thing that will help whether you are standing, running, or using a sit stand workstation is to have the right footwear and maybe even insoles depending on the activity or length of standing. Here is an excerpt from fitdocs.com where a Dr. explains just some of the problems that poor posture can lead too:

“Spending our days hunched over a desk (or over a smartphone) puts significant pressure on the joints of your spine, from your lower back all the way up to the atlas, where your neck and skull meet. Just consider a few of the health problems I see in my patients that can be directly tied to poor posture:

Ok let’s get back to standing while working though now that you know how to stand up straight normally.

Good Posture While Working at a Sit Stand Desk

There is posture, which we talked about above, and then there is standing at your desk and having to type, read a screen, do paperwork, lean over and a whole host of other things that will make it so you are not always standing perfectly straight. This is ok and not bad for your body at all but what you want to do is maintain some basics while working at your sit stand workstation. To get another perspective on posture while using a sit stand desk you can check out this article from MakeUseOf.com and in the middle it discusses posture at your desk.

First try to keep your monitor about 20”-30” away from your face. Now obviously you might have to lean in sometimes to read something but as a rule try to keep that distance between you and your computer screen. This will help with eye strain, neck pain and also once everything else is set up properly will keep you properly aligned so that you maintain good posture.

Second make sure that your desk and elbows are about at the same height when your arms are bent like you would be typing on a keyboard. This will make it so that when you are typing there is less or no strain on your wrists and keep your body aligned properly. Your arms should be at a 90 degree angle when you are typing on your keyboard while you are standing and working.

Thirdly tilt your monitor up slightly so that it is not facing straight forward but so that the bottom comes towards you and the top away. This angle will also help with eye and neck strain or pain.

Fourth just as with proper posture when you are standing at your desk then you should keep your knees slightly bent. You can do this by putting one leg up at a time on a block, book or anything you can put under your feet. This will not only help you keep good posture but will help with blood flow in your feet and legs and they won’t go numb or feel as sore from having so much weight on them.

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https://www.miracledesk.com/blogs/miracle-desk-blog/115939335-how-to-exercise-at-your-desk2016-02-10T13:23:00-06:002017-05-08T07:52:10-05:00How to Exercise at Your Desksteve brielmaier
Are you stuck in your office chair facing your computer monitor all day? You may not think much about it but sitting for prolonged periods is actually bad for their health. Among the number of bad effects of sitting for extended periods are....

Many office workers stay stuck to their office chairs facing their computer monitors all day long. If this sounds familiar, you may not realize that sitting for prolonged periods is actually bad for your health. Among immediately obvious harmful effects of sitting for extended periods are backaches and eye strain. But research shows that lurking dangers lead to hordes of illnesses and long-term physical conditions. Statistics show that people who sit a lot are likely to suffer from a heart attack 54% more than those who don’t. Plus, people are 64% more likely to die from heart attack if they sit for more than 23 hours a week. This is why office workers have to incorporate exercises while they are in their office cubicles.

Here are some tips you can follow so that you can preserve your health and stay fit (even if you decide to stay in your chair and are not ready to try standing at work.)

While sitting

Observing proper sitting posture is a great start. Proper alignment keeps the back straight, which will help prevent back problems from ever becoming an issue for you. Additionally, sitting properly keeps you from developing stiff neck.

So, how can you exercise at your desk?

Do simple stretches

Stretches while you are sitting keep your body from feeling stiff. As such, be sure to remember to stretch your arms, neck, shoulders legs, and torso while working at your desk.

- Neck: Bend your neck slowly, side to side, back to front. You can also turn your neck to the right and to the left. You can do this simple exercise when you feel stressed by a task.

- Shoulders: To relieve tension from your shoulders, you can roll the shoulders forward and backward. Do this ten times in each direction.

- Arms: Stretch your arms in front of you and slowly hold onto the edge of the desk. Lean closer to your desk afterward.

- Chest and abdomen: Puff up your chest the moment you feel that you have hunched your body over the computer keyboard. The key is to pull the shoulders back to counter the effect of hunching over. Regarding your belly area, you can contract the muscles, and hold the position for a few counts and release.

- Legs (calves and ankles): Your calves can benefit from leg lifts using the balls of your feet while sitting on the chair. This will keep blood clots from forming. Your ankles can also benefit from twists to the right and to the left.

While standing

Fact: The human body is not meant to stay in one position all throughout the day. Furthermore, it is not intended to stay seated the whole time. This means that all of you office workers out there should spend a lot of time away from the chair and exercise for good health. The ideal amount of time that you should get up from your chair is hourly, taking around ten minutes of standing.

Here are some exercises you can do while standing.

Breathe in an out

While standing, you can do breathing exercises. Breathe in, hold your breath for a few seconds and breathe out. This will get fresh air flowing into your lungs and to your whole body.

Stretch your back

This is a very simple exercise that requires you to put your hands on the area above your buttocks. Your aim should be to stretch your torso backward. This will relieve some of the tension that has built up while you were seated.

Do a crouching position

You can do this with your feet apart, around the width of your shoulders. With your back straight, you need to crouch as low as you can. This gives your body a good stretch.

Exercise your hands with a hand gripper

If your task only needs you to read manuscripts, you can get up and give you hands a workout with the hand gripper.

In a nutshell, office workers do not have to suffer the consequences of being stuck in the office all day. Whatever you do – be it sitting or standing – make sure you are doing something to stay healthy.

You are probably not aware that standing at your desk is good for your mind and your body. Yes, although the idea of standing while doing your job seems impractical and inconvenient, it totally isn’t. Standing has the power to boost your energy and to keep you fit in more ways than one. Besides, statistics show that standing burns three times more calories than sitting and it actually does more for mental alertness.

Why can the simple act of standing do so much to keep you alert and ready for action?

The answer to this is simple. The human body was just not made to sit around all day. In fact, the structure of the spine requires a person to stand straight with shoulders back and chest out. This posture makes sure that blood can flow properly to all the vital organs and tissues of the body. Additionally, when muscles in the legs stay active from standing, blood flow in the leg veins won’t become sluggish.

Why is it important for blood to flow to all the body parts? Slow or constricted blood flow can create blood clots in the legs. You surely might have heard of incidents where people on long flights suffered from the condition. Sitting in the airplane seat for more than 12 hours slows down the blood flow. However, when you stand up often, the muscles of the legs can squeeze the valves found in the veins of the legs. The result is blood can get pushed upward, back toward the heart, preventing blood clots from forming.

Furthermore, when you stand and the blood gets circulated properly, your brain will receive the oxygen it needs to stay alert. Haven’t you noticed that when you are tired from doing your tasks you yawn a lot? That is just your body’s way of compensating for the depletion of oxygen in the brain. When you yawn, you breathe in a lungful of fresh air with the needed oxygen. Consequently, a brain that receives this oxygen and the simple sugars present in the blood can be expected to be in tip top shape. Thus, anytime you feel tired or sleepy, take a break and move away from your desk for some time. You will come back refreshed and ready to start working again.

Aside from ensuring proper blood flow to all parts of your body, standing helps strengthen your leg muscles. This is a perk that you get when you stand at your stand-up desk. You won’t have to spend too much at the gym as your simple efforts while at the work place are doing a great job of keeping you fit.

Another wonderful thing about standing at your desk is that you can prevent back problems. Because you are not bent over your desk while typing furiously at your computer keyboard, you can bet that your back stays in the right position for your benefit. You won’t worry about gravity pulling down on the small bones of your spine, creating pressure around the area of the lower back. In short, standing regularly while in the office keeps you from developing lower back problems the long run.

Then there is also the issue of burning more calories. This is particularly helpful in burning off excess pounds that you eat anytime during the day. Sitting down on your office chair from eight to five won’t do your belly any good. You will only feel sluggish and bushed after a hard day at work.

How can you incorporate standing into your routine at work?

If you have a regular desk and office chair, you can take short breaks every hour. Just stand up and stretch your muscles. You can spend around 10 minutes doing this while still attending to tasks that you can do while standing up. If you can afford it (or if your office can shoulder the expense), you can purchase a stand-up desk to let you gain the full benefits of standing.

You should always keep your legs beneath your torso and your neck and head in line with your spine being straight. Your core (stomach, lower back and legs) should be keeping you steady and they should be activated.

Face forwards towards whatever you are working on whether it be a computer screen or a craft project. Don’t twist your body to see what you are working on.

Stay within a close distance to your work so that your body is not having to strain to reach the keyboard or the manufacturing line or the lab tools.

Always keep enough room in your work space to be able to shift or change positions while working. This will allow movement which is good for standing and working and keep your metabolism high.

It is best when standing to shift your weight from one foot to the other so many suggest having something below you to lift a foot onto like a footrest or stool or even an old stepper you don’t use anymore. This lets the circulation flow and keeps your feet or legs from going numb.

Sitting is not all bad just as standing all the time and not moving can be bad. So allow for time to sit or stand whichever is the one you don’t do as often. If you stand all day take calls sitting down and if you sit stand while on the phone or while filing etc.

When standing on cold or hard surfaces it is best to use something to insulate yourself from the floor and to provide some cushioning. Many pads are made for this like our Gel Cushion Standing Pad which you can find here.

Different tasks require different work surface heights:

When doing work that requires you to be precise it is best to keep your elbows supported so having your work about 2 inches above your normal elbow height is best. This would include tasks such as writing or assembling electronics.

When it comes to doing work that is repetitive like assembly line work or doing any movement over and over again then it is best to have your work station about 2-4 inches below your normal height for your elbows.

Heavy work, demanding downward forces – from 8-16 inches below elbow height. When doing hard or heavy work that requires a lot of muscle work or downward force then you should set your work up about 8-16 inches below your elbow height.

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https://www.miracledesk.com/blogs/miracle-desk-blog/115937287-how-to-burn-calories-by-just-standing-at-your-desk2016-01-31T03:49:00-06:002016-08-19T14:35:09-05:00How to Burn Calories by Just Standing at Your Desksteve brielmaier

If you are like most Americans then you spend a lot of time sitting. Whether it be the commute to work, the lazy boy after work, dinner time or you have a desk job you are sitting for a good portion of your day. Sitting is now known as the new smoking. Data shows ....

If you are like most Americans then you spend a lot of time sitting. Whether it be the commute to work, the lazy boy after work, dinner time or you have a desk job you are sitting for a good portion of your day. Sitting is now known as the new smoking. Data shows that sitting for long periods of time can slow your metabolism which can lead to weight gain, heart problems and a host of other diseases. Sitting doesn’t just make you sore and stiff it can have life threatening effects. If you haven’t switched to a desk where you can stand and sit at work then you should definitely be at least getting up and moving every few hours if not more. Below we lay out a few things you can do while at work to increase your metabolism, stop being sedentary and maybe even start to lose some weight.

Since we have already concluded that you don’t have our Miracle Desk or any other desk for sitting and standing at work why not try a few of these simple “exercises” to get your heart rate going and stop the sitting disease from taking hold:

If you don’t have to be sitting for an activity, like typing or writing, then stand up. So you can answer phone calls or make them standing up or sort paperwork standing up or any other activity that does not require sitting and if you don’t have anyone watching then even stepping or marching in place can be a great alternative to walking around. This will increase your metabolic rate and keep your legs from falling asleep or getting stiff from sitting all day. If you had a sit and stand desk option you would be able to go from sitting to standing and move your legs while standing. Check out our desks here.

While changing the font on your screen might seem like a hassle it is nothing compared to the problems that sitting all day can give you. Change the font on your screen if you are just reading lots of documents and stand to read. You can even do the marching exercise mentioned above. When you sit your core and glutes essentially shut down but by simply standing you reactivate those muscles and they begin to work and build strength. This activation of the muscles also tells your body to burn more calories so it is a double bonus.

Stretching out after a long time a sitting is a great idea. If you have been sitting before you head to lunch take a couple of minutes and stretch out your back and legs and get them moving again. Even while you are sitting you can stretch your arms and back and neck. This is great to keep limber even if you have to sit all day. Do it before you head out the door to go home too.

People have found that even taking moderate walks during their breaks and using the stairs is especially good to get the heart pumping. One person found that after a walk up and down the stairs at break it took their metabolism 2 hours to return to it’s resting rate. This is good news for anyone who says they don’t have the time to exercise. Grab your coffee and hit the hallways, go outside if you can or climb the stairs if there are any.

Walking meetings can be a suggestion and if not walking then at least the option to stand during meetings. Meetings have actually been shown to be quicker and more productive if the participants stand.

Standing is far better than sitting but don’t stand all the time as it is just as hard on your body if not done properly and with the proper tools. if you don’t have a sit stand desk yet then you can test the standing work way with our incredibly affordable desks that are easy to move, allow you to keep your own desk, are sturdy and give you all the health benefits of standing and working.